Christmas already?

So here is my little Jacques, stressing because he just had a bath — yes, this is about as clean as he gets — and is pretty sure a good brushing is sure to follow. He doesn’t know I’m going to let him off the hook. That anxious face gets me every time.

It’s almost Christmas. I have plans but I don’t have a Christmas ritual over here, so it is kind of taking me by surprise. I hope you are all well and well prepared for the holidays. The contractors are off for a couple of weeks. They’ll return in January and so will I. See you then.

You’re right. We must prepare for the new year which looks to become a lot like the old year except, you know, a whole additional year of it. So do I chill one bottle of champagne or two? What about tossing some caviar into the shopping basket? Smoked or cured salmon? Could be a rough twelve months. Can’t be too prepared.